An exciting addition to a home freshwater aquarium could be a shark. However, the sharks found in aquariums are different from those found in the ocean, as the latter can grow quite large and dangerous. Common types of freshwater shark fish include cyprinids and catfish.Â
These fish are active bottom-to-midwater dwellers that are also simple to care for. They are a thrilling addition to any freshwater tank because they resemble sharks found in the ocean.
In this article, you’ll see 10 unique species of freshwater shark, each suitable for a home aquarium, and learn more about their traits. OK, let’s get started.
What Are Freshwater Sharks?
Having a large, pointed head and a dorsal fin, freshwater sharks are a type of fish that look similar to their saltwater counterparts. However, they share no ancestry with the sharks found in the ocean. Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam are home to many freshwater sharks, which can be found in the country’s rivers and lakes. A small number of these species might even be found in Australia.
Most of the time, these fish will be shades of gray, black, or even purple. They usually come in a single hue rather than a pattern of shades. Freshwater sharks often have a metallic sheen to their scales. A shark’s fins are typically a lighter color than the rest of its body, with a black or dark-colored border.
10 Best Freshwater Sharks (For Those Short On Time)
If you don’t have much time, then here are the best freshwater sharks you can choose for your aquarium!
Bala Sharks
Red Tail Sharks
Rainbow Sharks
Iridescent Sharks
Violet Blushing Sharks
Black Shark
Roseline Sharks
Harlequin Sharks
Chinese High-Fin Banded Sharks
Silver Apollo Sharks
Here are some examples of more widespread species:
The large and unique Bala Shark is a freshwater fish many aquarium keepers have considered. The Bala Shark, a species native to Southeast Asia, has earned the nickname “The Gentle Giant” for its large size and calm demeanor. If you have some experience caring for fish, this gorgeous freshwater fish would be a great addition to your aquarium.
Due to their varied colors and patterns, Bala Sharks are also called Tricolor Sharks, Silver Balas, Silver Sharks, and even Tri Color Minnows. It is believed that Bala Sharks are now extinct or critically endangered in many of their historic freshwater ranges, so much so that conservation efforts have been launched to save the species.
Food and Diet
Bala Sharks are omnivores in their natural environment, feeding on various organisms, including insects, larvae, algae, plant parts, and even small crustaceans. They will eat live and dried flake food when kept in an aquarium.
Bala Sharks should be fed high-quality pellets or flakes explicitly made for fish as their primary diet. Adding plankton, bloodworms, or suitable vegetable matter can improve their health. Diced fruits and/or spinach are popular additions for many fish owners.
Tankmates
These fish are known for their friendliness and can coexist peacefully with other aquarium inhabitants. Great tank mates for Bala Sharks include Rainbowfish, Rasboras, Gourami’s, and Tetras.
The Bala Shark may prey on smaller fish as it matures, so keeping plenty of space in the tank for all the fish is essential. Before adding a new smaller fish to the tank, it’s always a good idea to check and see if it’s compatible with the current inhabitants.
Often misidentified as Red Tail Shark Minnows, Red Tail sharks are endemic to Thailand’s Chao Phraya basins. These fish are found in lowland waterways with rocky or sandy bottoms. The red-tail shark’s name refers to the color of its tail, which makes it stand out among other sharks. Red-tail sharks have a bad reputation and are territorial and even aggressive toward their own kind.
Red-tail sharks are distinguished by their sleek, dark bodies and bright red forked tails. The red-tail shark’s dorsal fin has a distinct triangular shape and a pointed snout. When viewed from above, the dorsal fin of some red-tailed sharks has a white tip.
Under duress, illness, or poor water quality, they may lose their tail color. Adult male red-tail sharks differ visually from females by having more vivid patterns, smaller bodies, and a more pointed dorsal fin.Â
Food and Diet
The red-tailed shark consumes a varied diet, primarily plants, insects, and sometimes even smaller fish. When raised in captivity, however, red-tail sharks consume a varied diet that includes algae, plants, meat, and vegetables. Whether fresh or frozen, the red-tail shark will devour whatever is in front of it.
The red-tail shark also needs live food, pellets and flakes. They prefer pellets over flakes, however, because of the shape of their mouths and the fact that they need to eat from the bottom. They are scavengers rather than predators, so they can safely eat algae. Blood worms, maggots, brine shrimp, and daphnia every few meals will do the trick.
Tankmates
It’s best to keep a red-tail shark with fish of a similar size, as they may try to bully smaller fish in the tank if they get the chance. Their unique coloring makes them a favorite among fish keepers. Still, they tend to be territorial and aggressive toward other species. The red-tailed shark’s compatibility with other fish is low since they frequently engage in violent conflict.
The rainbow shark is not a true shark at all. Instead, they are called sharks because of the way their dorsal fin stands out from the rest of their body. Rainbow sharks, in contrast to true sharks, are members of the Cyprinidae family, which includes fish like minnows and guppies.
The red coloring of rainbow sharks’ fins is the primary reason for the species’ nickname. Their fins can sometimes take on an orange tint in addition to being red. Their long, slender bodies can be gray or black, making the vivid colors of their fins stand out even more. Dark blue bodies are rare in rainbow sharks, but they exist.
Food and Diet
Rainbow sharks are omnivores in their natural habitat, eating various foods, including algae, larvae, and small amounts of fish and other marine animals. They will also consume algae that have settled to the bottom of your aquarium. If there aren’t enough algae in your tank, you can supplement their diet with tablets, flakes, or wafers containing algae.Â
Tankmates
As Rainbow Sharks are very territorial, it is essential to carefully consider who you put in their tank. They like to hang out at the tank’s bottom, and they may try to protect their territory by driving away any other fish that venture too close to their chosen spot. So aquarists should exercise extreme caution when selecting tank mates for Rainbow Sharks.Â
Other species of fish that live near the bottom, like catfish, are best avoided. Fish that live in the tank’s middle to upper levels are preferable. Tolerating the Rainbow Shark’s intimidating behavior would be species of similar or larger size with a semi-aggressive temperament.Â
Iridescent sharks, or Pangasianodon hypophthalmus, are iridescent catfish, sutchi catfish, and siamese sharks. This is not some kind of man-eating sea monster, despite what its common name would imply. They are related to shark catfish, which comprise the family Pangasiidae. The fact is that these sharks are a staple of any collection of freshwater sharks suitable for an aquarium.
It’s worth noting that iridescent sharks have a unique and captivating appearance. Their distinctive dorsal fin is one distinguishing feature. It’s like a sail and adjusts its shape to the fish’s swimming style. When they are young, iridescent sharks, like all sharks, have very black, shiny skin. However, their skin loses its luster and gradually turns a uniform gray as they age.
Food and Diet
Maintaining variation is key to finding iridescent shark food. These fish, like catfish, are omnivores. You must look for the proper diet combination to offer them the vitamins and nutrients they need to stay healthy. It’s important to prepare your fish’s diet because micronutrient shortages can limit their lifespan and harm their health.
If it’s from a good company, flakes are suggested. This will provide them with the basic nutrients that need to grow and prevent sickness. You should also include live food. Since these are big fish, this will enrich them and give them extra protein.
Great options include bloodworms, brine shrimps, worms, and feeder fish. Make sure your iridescent shark food comes from reliable sources. Do your research—low-quality foods can spread diseases to aquariums.
Tankmates
Peaceful fish of a similar size make excellent tank mates for iridescent sharks. If it’s any smaller, it could be mistaken for food. Due to their timid nature, these fish should have their tank mates picked carefully, making sure to exclude aggressive ones. Iridescent sharks lack the temperament to strike back or protect themselves, making them easy prey.Â
Oscars, Silver Dollar Fish, and large Plecos will all make great tank mates for iridescent sharks.
Violet Blushing Shark
pH: 6.6 – 7.9
Temperature: 68 – 78 ℉
Tank Size: 125 Gallons
Fish Size: 31 cm
Lifespan: 8-10 years
Diet: Omnivore
Difficulty: Moderate
A Violet Blushing Shark has a visible silver-like color. Although the body seems to be transparent. You can see the outline of the internal organs. And a violet touch around its cheek gave it the name “Violet Blushing Shark.”Â
Also, it has a narrower body with thick lips and two medium-sized eyes.
Their mouth is crescent-shaped and transverse. Each jaw has a sharp inner fold. Two small barbels are hidden in a deep lateral groove. And the Snout is relatively thick, projecting beyond the lower jaw, with a small lobe on each side.
Food and Diet
The violet-blushing shark feeds on the tank floor. It also thrives on dry fish meals and frozen bloodworms. It will primarily eat what is on the bottom of the water and will eat most sinking foods, such as live or frozen daphnia, bloodworms, and brine shrimp.
Your Violet Blushing shark will eat fine food, flakes, pellets (tablets), algae wafers, cucumber, and spinach in the tank. Others include brine shrimp, daphnia, mysis shrimp, mosquito larvae, and other frozen foods.
Tankmates
These sharks tend to be hostile toward other members of their own species, if you don’t keep them in groups of five and this aggression can transfer to other fish of similar form. It’s especially true with aquariums on the smaller side.
With that being said, they get along well with larger peaceful Cyprinids like Rainbowfish, Botia loaches, Clown loaches, Devarios, and more.
Black Sharks are freshwater aquarium fish that resemble their oceanic kin, the true sharks, quite closely. The Black Shark fish is a massive freshwater species. It is widespread in Southeast Asian waterways, including the rivers, streams, channels, and floodplains of Malaysia, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, Borneo, and Sumatra. They feel safe in their natural surroundings because of all the places they may hide.
Food and Diet
Black sharks are opportunistic feeders who consume virtually anything that fits their mouths. This makes it easy for them to find food. You’ll just need to provide them with a diet of smaller fish and invertebrates like snails and shrimp. You can also feed this shark spirulina flakes, algae, or shrimp pellets.Â
On top of this, feeding your shark fresh or frozen meat, fish, and vegetables will help maintain or improve its color. Juvenile freshwater Black Sharks should be fed at least twice daily. In contrast, adult Black Sharks should be fed once daily due to their enormous appetites.Â
Tankmates
This fish does better in isolation. Fish tank mates should be chosen with the fish’s feeding habits in mind if you plan to house it with other fish species. If you want to make life easier, only keep fish species with comparable dietary needs.
The Black Shark fish gets along best with other giant fish who share its calm demeanor. Be sure they swim quickly and are one of the fish species that prefer to stay in the tank’s upper or middle levels. Danios, Angelfish, Barbs, Tetras, and Gouramis are all excellent tank mates for your Black Shark fish.
Denison Barbs, Red-line Torpedo Barbs, and Miss Kerala are all names for the same species of shark commonly referred to as Roseline Sharks. The Roseline shark is a freshwater fish well-known for its eye-catching patterns. They come in a wide variety of hues, though silver is its essential characteristic. You may also notice that they come in a golden and a lemon-yellow shade.
In the center of their bodies is a black lateral stripe extending to the end of their tails. A red line may be seen superimposed on top of the black one. Their crowns are a vibrant emerald green color. The physical characteristics of males and females are indistinguishable. However, females are a little bit longer than males.
Food and Diet
Roseline Sharks are notoriously finicky eaters. However, in addition to their regular diet of small crustaceans located on or near the bottom, they also enjoy eating nutritious, high-quality food such as pieces of vegetables and meat proteins. Additionally, sharks’ regular diets provide them with other beneficial nutrients like carotenoids. The supplementation of sharks’ diets in this way improves both their physical condition and their appearance.
Roseline Sharks can have their diets varied by being fed live and frozen meals, blanched vegetables, bloodworms, brine shrimp, daphnia, and spirulina. All of these can be offered twice daily during feeding time.
Tankmates
It should only be housed with similarly sized and energetic fish that do not have delicate tail fins. With that in mind, you can keep them with cherry barbs, gouramis, cichlids, catfish, plecostomus and even small freshwater sting rays.
The Harlequin shark’s body is generally a creamy yellow but bears distinct gray markings and black blotches. Even their transparent fins are covered in black spots. Juvenile fish display the most vibrant patterns and colors. The harlequin shark is easily identifiable by its bright colors. However, these characteristics gradually disappear as the fish ages.
Food and Diet
The aufwuchs, or slimy coating of bacteria, protists, fungi, and algae that forms on hard surfaces, is a favorite food of the omnivorous harlequin shark. Their ability to consume algae on a diet like this in larger tanks makes them a valuable addition. They also consume prepared flakes, sinking wafers, and pellets, with the caveat that formulations richer in vegetable content are preferable.
Brands that include kelp or spirulina are highly recommended. Vegetables like lettuce and squash, which have been boiled, are another favorite food of harlequin sharks. Place portions near the bottom of the container and clip them there so the shark can get at them quickly.
Tankmates
Aquarists typically keep harlequin sharks alone, without any other fish of the same kind. This is because it is difficult to house them with other species of fish. This aquarium shark is quite dangerous, as it will attack anything that comes too close to its territory. Therefore, potential tank mates should spend most of their time in the tank’s middle or upper levels.
They should be able to swim quickly and have a calm demeanor like the Harlequin shark. And at the very least, they should know how to protect themselves. Large barbs, danios, and minnow species are all suitable tank mates.
Never group this fish with others of its kind or with other species that share its general body shape. They are so intolerant of one another that they will eventually fight each other and possibly kill each other.
Most aquarists know little about the Chinese High Fin Banded Shark, although it’s a unique freshwater fish. The Chinese High Fin Banded Shark’s remarkable metamorphosis is one of its most fascinating features. Many aquarists with experience with this species call it the “reverse ugly duckling.”
Their entire bodies are covered with alternating black and white stripes. The triangular shape of the dorsal fin complements the high-contrast patterning. They are named for their disproportionately large dorsal fin, distinguishing them from other fish.
Food and Diet
Some people mistakenly believe that Chinese High-Fin Banded Sharks are vegetarians. Despite their preference for algae, these creatures are true omnivores and will feast on anything available. Because of this, these fish will eat anything that falls to the bottom of the tank.
The best way to ensure proper growth and development through a diet rich in protein, vitamins, and other essential nutrients is to offer various foods. Add high-protein live and frozen snacks to their diet to complement the algae.
Earthworms, bloodworms, tubifex worms, brine shrimp, and crustaceans are also acceptable diet options. After reaching a specific size, these freshwater fish will eat various other foods, including insects, mollusks, and shrimp parts.
Tankmates
In the wild, the Chinese high-fin banded shark will form schools of three to five. They don’t swim much in the tank and instead spend a lot of their time sleeping. When they’re not sleeping, they scrounge around the tank floor for food and avoid contact with the locals above them.
The fish will do best in a pond alongside other species, such as Koi, goldfish, and loaches. Don’t put the fish in a tank with tropical fish, or one of them will die from unsuitable water requirements.
An elongated body, a forked caudal fin, and a dorsal fin that is located low on the back are all distinguishing features of the Silver Apollo Shark. These fish are green above a dark horizontal line from their nose to their tail fin and silvery white below.
Food & Diet
Because of their omnivorous nature, Apollo sharks can be fed plant and animal stuff. No matter what they locate in the aquarium, whether a little fish or a floating plant, Apollo sharks will eat it.
Various fresh and frozen meals are suitable for your Apollo sharks’ diet. Brine shrimp, mosquito larvae, and krill are among their favorite foods, although they will also happily consume flakes and pellets. Freeze-dried tubifex and bloodworms make excellent snacks for apollo sharks.
Tankmates
Apollo sharks do well with other large, peaceful fish of similar sizes, such as Bala Sharks, Tin Foils, Barbs, Rainbowfish, Scavenger Catfish, and Gouramis.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions that people have about keeping freshwater sharks!
What Do Freshwater Sharks Eat?
The structure of a freshwater shark fish’s mouth reveals a lot about the food it consumes. Most captive sharks are omnivores, so a diet includes things like Aqueon Tropical Flakes, Color Flakes, Spirulina Flakes, Tropical Granules, Algae Rounds, Bottom Feeder Tablets, and Shrimp Pellets is ideal for them. In addition to fresh foods, frozen and live items can be served as rewards to boost development and pigmentation.Â
Do Any Aquarium Sharks Resemble Catfish?
Iridescent sharks have that familiar catfish-like head complete with barbels. However, their bodies are pretty bulbous. The fins are also quite large and fan-like, giving the fish a unique profile.
Will Aquarium Sharks Eat Fish?
Sharks that get along with other fish and invertebrates do well in tanks with them. On the other hand, sharks that don’t get along with other fish and invertebrates will eat them all and should only be kept with other sharks.
What Is The Best Aquarium Shark For Beginners?
The Roseline Shark, with its stunning gold, crimson, and black pattern, is one of the most striking marine fishes you’ll ever see in an aquarium. These shark fish are great for new aquarium owners because they require only a 50-gallon tank at the very least.
What’s The Easiest Freshwater Shark To Keep?
The Silver Apollo Shark and the Violet Blushing Shark are two of the easiest freshwater sharks to care for. However, you should still know how each species reacts to others in the tank.
Conclusion
The best freshwater sharks for a fish tank are hardy species, compatible with other tank mates, and appropriate for the size of the tank. Some popular options include the rainbow shark, red tail shark, bala shark, and black shark.
However, it is vital to research the specific needs of each species and provide proper care, such as a suitable environment and appropriate diet, to ensure the health and well-being of the fish. It’s also essential to remember that not all species marketed as “freshwater sharks” are actual sharks, but relatively species that resemble shark-like behavior and physical characteristics.
